THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, SEpTEmbER 4, 2020 Page 11 Reflections from the Director bread of Life celebrates its 40th anniversary A s Bread of Life celebrates its 40th anniversary, 1980-2020, I’ve been thinking about how my own story intertwines with that of BOL. I took a job at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution fresh out of college, determined to make a career in opera while working as a research technician. A few years later, as I was about to move to the Boston area to be closer to the musical action, I attended a presentation at my church by a woman who was about to become the Minister of Missions at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Malden. Part of her work would be to oversee a new ministry the church had begun to the hungry and homeless. I knew instantly that I wanted to be part of that church and I soon was on the Missions Committee. Meanwhile, I realized that my work in the lab was not using my gifts and passions. I started praying about what work God might be leading me to do. I was drawn to the idea of working oversees in a refugee camp, but it became clear to me that I was too young and inexperienced to have much to offer people in that desperate situation. I needed to stay put and learn a few things. I started volunteering and doing some sub work at the Pine Street Inn in Boston. Then, in 1988 TriCity Community Action Program created the position of Homeless Advocate to work at the St. Paul’s evening meal, the ministry that eventually became Bread of Life. It seemed too good to be true. It was the exact fit for a saying of Jesus that tugged at my conscience: “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink.” Matthew 25:35. I applied for the job and was interviewed by TriCAP staff and by Tom Feagley, the ministry director. Amazingly, they hired me! To this day, I see that call to be the greatest miraculous intervention of God in my life. I became a fellow pilgrim with Tom and many, many other loving people with hearts broken by what breaks God’s heart: poverty, hunger, homelessness, injustice, violence, neglect, loneliness. As we work to build our Under One Roof multi-purpose facility to serve more neighbors well into the future, I’m forever grateful to do this work feeding, advocating, coming alongside, and loving people just like me who are going through hard and lonely places in their lives. And I’m forever grateful for fellow pilgrims like you on the journey. May God bless Bread of Life with another 40 years and beyond! And may God bless each of you. Gabriella Snyder Stelmack Executive Director Coffee lovers line up for Koffee N’ Box T he City of Everett has announced the opening of a new café at the heart of Everett Square. Koffee N’ Box, which is owned by Pricila Trancoso, began serving customers during its soft opening on Wednesday, August 26. The café, which has a unique, colorful exterior, is located at 391 Broadway DiDomenico serves on Speaker on “Mission: Readiness” panel Discusses pandemic and children’s education and nutrition O n August 19, State Senator Sal DiDomenico served as a Speaker on a virtual Mission: Readiness panel called “Massachusetts Early Education and Care: A National Security Imperative during Uncertain Times” to discuss the impact that COVID-19 has had on early childhood education and child nutrition. DiDomenico was joined by retired Generals Jack Hammond and Mike Hall, Amy O’Leary of Early Education for All and the National Director of the Council for a Strong America’s Mission: Readiness group, Ben Goodman. Mission: Readiness is a group of 750 retired admirals, generals and other top military leaders who work to champion evidence-based, bipartisan state and federal public policy solutions that are proven to prepare youngSal DiDomenico State Senator sters for life and to be able to serve their nation in any way that they choose. DiDomenico kicked off the panel by sharing his perspective on early childhood challenges in Massachusetts and the growing childhood hunger epidemic due to the economic fallout from COVID-19. DiDomenico has been a longtime champion of both early education and food security policies in the Massachusetts Senate, and he provided insight into how the pandemic has weakened the early education sector, exacerbating challenges for Massachusetts kids and their families. In his comments, he emphasized that child care is not babysitting, but a crucial way to ensure children are prepared for future success. DiDomenico also provided insight to the participants and listeners on how they can work with their elected officials and representatives to urge actionable steps that preserve and strengthen early childhood programs. ISO New England selects plan to replace Mystic Generating Station By Christopher Roberson The installation cost of Ready A fter reviewing 36 proposals to replace the aging Mystic Generating Station, ISO New England has decided to move forward with the Greater Boston Ready Path Solution designed by National Grid and Eversource. Mystic Generating Station, which is owned by Exelon Generation, is slated to be decommissioned by 2024. “Though the selection of the Ready Path project may have disappointed other transmission developers, the ISO’s responsibility to New England electricity customers is to select a project that ensures reliability, is timely, and is cost-effective,” said Robert Ethier, vice president of system planning for ISO New England, which monitors the region’s bulk power grid. “The project accomplishes these goals.” Path is currently estimated at $49 million. “Electricity customers of New England can be sure that this competitive process led developers to look hard at the most efficient, cost-effective ways to ensure a reliable power grid,” said Ethier. Earlier this year, Anbaric, a renewable energy company headquartered in Wakefield, presented the Mystic Reliability Wind Link, designed to “bring offshore wind and backup system power from southeast Massachusetts directly to Greater Boston.” Had the proposal been accepted, the creation of the wind link would have been executed using a series of wind farms located south of Martha’s Vineyard and Cape Cod. The energy from the wind farms would have then been transmitted to Everett using a 45-mile network of underwater lines. Theodore Paradise, Anbaric’s senior vice president of transmission strategy, said ISO New England may have made a mistake by not choosing the wind link project. “ISO New England didn’t pick that project, instead going with a Band-Aid approach that is likely to be obsolete as soon as it’s built,” he said. However, Paradise said the wind link could be considered in the future should the state decide to expand its transmission system and move away from fossil fuels. Since 2009, Mystic Station has strewn 27 million tons of carbon dioxide into the air as well as 3,000 tons of nitrogen oxide and 4,000 tons of sulfur dioxide. The station has also become a financial burden, costing New England residents to pay up to $300 million per year. across from the Central Fire Station. The café offers a variety of food and drink options, including coffee, smoothies, pastries, yogurt and acai bowls. Koffee N’ Box is open Monday-Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The official ribbon-cutting will be on September 10.
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